Molding apparatus



Feb. 13, 1951 'r. s. I -IUXHAM MOLDING APPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 26, 1946 FIG.

INVENTOR By T S. HUXHAM 1 (El/71w ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 T. s. HUXHAM2,541,923

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 70 62 /56 I73I84 /76 74 I42 63 I I I I INVENTOR 7'. S. HUXHAM AT TORNF I Feb. 13,1951 T, s, HUXHAM 2,541,923

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 IN l ENTOR 7' SHUXHAM A TTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 Filed Jan. 26, 1946 'r. s. HUXHAM2,541,923

MOLDING APPARATUS A 11 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR 7." S. HUXHAM ATTORNEYFeb; 13, 1951 T. s. HUXHAM" 2,

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 )A/l/ENTOR T 5.HU/YHAM A 7'7'ORNE V Feb. 13, 1951 T. s. HUXHAM 2,541,923

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan'. 26, 1946 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 33 k HMINI n [HUI /4a [74 64 FIG 36 FIG. .35

WIN

- INVENTOR T S HUXHAM A TTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 T. s. HUXHAM 2,541,923

MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1946 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 FIG. 34

[I'll //v VENTOR 7? .5. HUXHAM ATTORNEV Patented Feb. 13, 1951 MOLDINGAPPARATUS Trevor S. Huxham, East Orange, N. J., assignor to BellTelephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application January 26, 1946, Serial No. 643,733

2 Claims. (01. 1s 42 This invention relates to molding appara us andmore particularly to molding apparatus suitable for making body membershavingspaoed walls defining spaces i the body members:

The object of the invention is to 'provide'an improved molding apparatusthat. is operable'to make body members of rrioldable material and havingdiiierent numbers and arrangements of spaced walls.

A feature of the invention resides in a mold device employed as a femalesection or cavity of themold. I

Another feature resides in a core device or male section constructed toenter the mold device.

Another feature resides in mold device.

In the drawings: II I Fig. l is a front view, pa rtly in s ection, ofthe molding apparatus ofthis invention mounted in apress; I I I II IFig. 2 is an enlarged View, partly in section, of parts of the moldingapparatus; I

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view,- partlyin section,

oi the core device; I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view,partly in section, of the mold device and theholder. for the mold device; I I

Fig. 5is a bottom plan View ol a top plate of the core device; I a I I II I Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the top plate shown inFig. 5 and inverted relative to its normal position; II I I I I I I Fig.7 is a side elevation, partly i section, of a filler piece employed inthe holder of the mold device; 7 I

Fig. 3 is a side view, par tly ineection, or a lower portion of theouter wall of the mold device;

Fig. 9 is a side view, partly in section, of an upper portion of theouter Wall of the mold device;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view ofthe base of the mold device;

Fig. 11 is a side View, partly in section, of the base shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side view, partly in section, of a wall constructed for useas an annular wall in the mold device;

Fig. 13 is a side View, partly in section; of a spacer ring to adjustthe. position of the annular wall shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the annular wall shownin Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a vertical. cross-section of a portion of the annular wallshown in Fig. 12 and taken on the line l5l5 in Fig. 14; r

iii

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-section of a portion "of the annular wallshown in Fig. 12 and taken on the line Iii-l6 in Fig. 14;

' Fig; 17 is a vertical cross-section of aportion of the annular wallshown in Fig. 12 and taken onthe line I'M-ll in Fig. 14; "Fig; 18 is anenlarged side elevation, partly in section, of atubular member employedas an inner annular wall in the mold device;

Fig; 19 is a top viewof the member shown in Fig. 18;

Fig.20 is a side elevational view of a cylindrical post employed as thelower inner wall in themold device;

Fig. 2lis a side View, partly in section, of a bearingpiece constructedto fit on the post shown in Fig; 20 and intended to be molded into thebody member; I I

Fig. 22 is a bottom plan view 'of a ring constructed to form part of anouter wall of the core'device;

Fig. 23 is a view of cross-section of the ring shown in Fig. 22;inverted relative to its normal position and taken on the line 2323 inFig, '22;

Fig. 24 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a spacer ring to beused in adjusting" the position of the ring shownin Figs. 22 and 23;

Fig. 25'is a side view, partly in section, of an annular wall employedin the core device;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged :bottom plan View, partly in section, of aportion of the annular wall shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. '27 is a side view, partly in section, of a. wall employed in thecore device;

Fig. 28 is a bottom plan view of the wall shown in Fig. 27;

' Fig. 29 is a side view, partly in section, of a post used as theinnermost wall in the core device;

Fig. 30 is a side view, partly in section, of a cone bearing piece to bemounted on. the post shown in Fig. 29 for molding into the body member;

Fig. 31 shows the molded body still within parts of the mold device, awrench applied to the body to facilitate removal of the body from partsof the mold device and part of the mold device supported on a worktable;

Fig. 32 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of parts oi the moldingapparatus with the mold device and core device assembled and operable toproduce a body of the type shown in Fig. 39 but somewhat larger andhaving more wallmembers and more spaces than in the body produced bymeans of the mold device and core device set up in Fig. 2;

Fig. 33 is a side elevation view, partly in sec- 3 tion, of parts or"the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 but with certain parts of the mold deviceand core device shown in Fig. 2 removed and some of the removed partsreplaced by some additional parts to make the mold device and coredevice operable to produce a body of the general type shown in Fig. 39but having a smaller number of walls and spaces provided therein andhaving connecting spokes formed in the molded body; V

Fig. 34 is a bottom plan view of thecore device employed in the set-upand arrangement shown in Fig. 38; V v w Figs. 35, 36 and 3'7 areenlarged side views, partly in section, of some of the parts used in thecore device set-up and arrangement shown in F Fig. 38 is a top in Fig.37; and

Fig. 39 is a side View, partly in section, of a body made by means ofthe molding apparatus set-up shown in Fig. 2.

In some potentiometers and rheostats now required card-like resistanceelements are supported in a body in which spaced walls are provided toserve as supporting means for the resistance elements and to definespaces in the body to accommodate the resistance elements. The bodies insome cases are made of moldable material and are made in differentsizesand with different numbers and arrangements of walls determined by theparticular requirements of each case. Male threads are required on thebodies. A mold, and a core device have been required for each size andform of body structure required.

To provide a mold device and a core device for each body structurerequired is relatively expensive since each mold and core device must beaccurately made by skilled artisans, a relatively large amount ofmaterial is tied up in the mold and core devices required andconsiderable storage space must be provided to hold and protect the moldand core devices. Since male plan view of the wall part shown threadsare provided on the molded bodies it the core device may be readilyremoved from the body after the molding operation.

A body of the type shown in Fig. 39 and made of moldable material may beproduced by means of the molding apparatus of this invention when themold device and the core device are constructed and arranged as shown inFig. 2 and molding material is placed in the mold device and the pressis operated to bring the core device into the molddevice while themolding material is in plastic condition.

The body M shown in Fig. 39 comprises an outer annular wall 42 andconcentrically arranged and spaced inner walls 63, M, 15, 6 and 41 and abase wall 58 defining spaces 69, 56, 5!, 52, 53, 54 and 55 in the body4|. The outer wall 52 is provided with male threads 56 and El one ofwhich may be used to receive an internally threaded cover, not shown,and the other of which may be used to receive a support, not

shown, for the body 4|. A portion of the outer wall 42 is thickened toprovide an outwardly extending flange 58 to form a stop for the cover,not shown. The spaces 49, 5t, 5| and 52 provide spaces in whichcard-like resistance elements,

not shown, may be placed and mounted in the body 4|. The spaces 53 and56 provide spaces in which lead wires or terminals, not shown, mayextend. The space 55 defined by the wall 41 provides a space throughwhich a shaft, not shown, may extend. Tubular bearings 59 and 60,bearing 59 being the cone bearing piece I50 shown in Fig. 30, aremounted in ends of the wall 41 to receive the shaft, notv shown. Thewall 46 is connected to the wall 4'! by an apertured and steppedhorizontal wall 6|. Each wall in the set of walls 43 to 46, inclusive,extends upwardly from the base wall 58 and to a different height, theheights progressing downwardly beginning with the wall 43 and endingwith the wall 46. The base wall 48 is stepped so that the base wall 48rises in steps as it progresses from the central region of the body 4!to the outer wall 42. The wall 41 is shorter than any of the othervertical walls in the body 4| and the outer wall 62 extends above andbelow the upper and lower planes of all other walls in the body ll.Recesses, not shown, are formed in the lower surface of the base wall 48and in the lower surface of the horizontal wall 6! during the moldingoperation.

The body 4| shown in Fig. 39 may be readily made by means of the presentinvention when the mold device 62 and the core device 63 are constructedand arrangedas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The mold device 62 is constructedto fit into and be supported by a mold holder 64 supported on a lowerplaten 65 supported in a press 66. The core device 63 is carried by anupper platen 6'! of the press 66 and the press 66 is operable to movethe platens 65 and 6'! toward and away from each other.

The mold holder 64 is constructed to receive the mold device 62 andcomprises an apertured base 68, a flanged tubular member 69 supported onand extending upwardly from the base 68 and a removable tubular fillerpiece it resting on the base 68 and extending upwardly in the tubularmember 69. The bore of the tubular member 69 is tapered to accommodatethe filler piece ll], the outer wall surface of which is tapered tomatch the bore of the tubular member 69, the filler piece 16 beinginsertable through the top of the tubular member 69. The flange H on theupper end of the tubular/ member 69 is apertured at spaced points 12 fora purpose to be later explained. Spaced passageways 13 are provided inthe tubular member 69 through which steam or other heating means mayenter the wall of the tubular member 69 to heat the mold holder 6 4.Laterally extending apertures '14 and 15 are formed in the tubularmember 69 to receive removable holding rods 76 and 11, respectively. Theholding rod 16 is constructed to extend through the aperture M in thetubular member 69 and into a cavity 18 formed in the filler piece 10 andserves to prevent undue withdrawal of the filler piece 10 from thetubular member 69. The holding rod i1 is constructed to extend throughthe aperture 15 in the tubular member 69 and through a correspondingaperture 19 formed in theiiller piece ID and into engagement with themold device 62 and serves to prevent undue withdrawal of the mold device62 from the filler piece 10, The

base 68 of the mold holder 64 is apertured at 80 to accommodate aplunger 8I on the upper end of which is supported an ejector plate 82secured by suitable fastening means 83 to the plunger 8!. The ejectorplate 82 normally rests in a recess 88 formed in the upper surface ofthe base 88 but may be thrust upwardly therefrom by suitable operationof the plunger 8|. Spaced slots 85 are provided in the base 68 to permitan ejecting tool, not shown, to be inserted through the base 68 intoengagement with the mold device 82.

The mold device 52 comprises an apertured base plate 86 shown in Figs.and 11, a twopart outer wall 81 comprising a lower outer wall member 88shown in Fig. 8 and an upper outer wall member 89 shown in Fig. 9 andconcentric walls 90, 9|, 92, 93 and 94 which'are telescopically arrangedwithin the area defined by the lower outer wall member 88. The walls 90,9|, 92, 93 and 94 are annular in form and extend upwardly, and each to adifferent height, in the space defined by the lower outer wall member88.

The base plate 86 as shown in Fig. 10 is circular in form with spacednotches 95 formed in the peripheral edge 98. A central aperture 91 isprovided in the base plate 86 and opens into a circular indentation 98formed in the upper surface of the base plate 86. Spaced counterboredapertures 99, I99 and IOI are provided in the base plate 86 toaccommodate bolts by means of which the walls 90 to 94 are mounted onthe base plate 85. Studs I02 are mounted on the base plate 88 andproject upwardly from the upper surface thereof to hold the lower outerwall member 88 against lateral movement on the base plate 86.

The two-part outer wall 81 is cooperatively formed by the lower outerwall member 88 and the upper outer wall member 89, the upper outer wallmember 89 being placed on and in end-toend relation with the lower outerwall member 88. The lower outer wall'member 88 vis shown in Fig. 8 andhas an upper shouldered end portion I03 and a lower end portion in whichspaced cavities I04 are provided to receive the studs I02 on the baseplate 85. The inner portion of the lower outer wall member 88 is of twodifferent diameters to ,provide a lower cylindrical inner surface I05and a larger uppercylindrical inner surface I88 joined by a shoulder IN.The upper cylindrical inner surface I06 is internally threaded toprovide screw threads I08. The upper outer wall member 89 is shown inFig. 9 and has a lower end portion I09 to fit the upper shouldered endportion I03 of the lower outer wall member 88. The upper end portion ofthe upper outer wall member 89 is provided with spaced cavities IIO fora purpose to be later explained. The inner portion of the upper outerwall member 89 is of different diameters to provide a lower cylindricalinner surface III and an upper cylindrical inner surface I I2 of smallerdiameter, the lower and upper cylindrical surfaces III and H2 beingjoined by a shoulder H3. The upper cylindrical inner surface H2 isinternally threaded to provide the screw threads II4. A groove H5 isformed in the outer surface of the upper outer wall member 89 toaccommodate the holding rod 11 in the mold. holder 84.

The walls 90 to 93, inclusive, are alike in structure but are differentin dimensions and an illustration and description of the wall 90 will besumcient for an understanding of the structure of each wall 90 to 93.The wall 90 is shown in Fig. 12 and is of ring-line form with internallythreaded bolt receiving holes 225 extending upwardly from the lower endH8. The upper end I ll of the wall 98 is formed to provide spacedembossings H8 and H9 and spaced pins I28. are mounted in the upper endIII, the arrangement of the embossings H8 and II9 and the pins I20 beingas shown in the enlarged view shown in Fig. 14, various cross-sectionsof portions of the wall 90 being shown in Figs. 15 to 1'7, inclusive.

The wall 94 is of smaller diameter than the walls to 93, inclusive, andas shown in Figs.

18 and 19 is a tubular member with a longitudinal bore I2I of twodifferent diameters. Internally threaded bolt receiving holes I22 areformed in the lower end portion I23. The upper end portion I29 of thewall 98 is made castle-like in form to provide spaced and longitudinallyextending tower-like projections I25, I29, I21, I28, I29 and I30.Mounted by means of pins I3I on the tower-like projections I25 to I38are cylindrical blocks I32 with radially extending wing portions I33.The smaller diameter portion of the bore I2I is dimensioned toaccommodate a cylindrical post I34 shown in Fig. 20, the lower end ofthe post I34 having an internally threaded bolt receiving hole I35formed therein and the upper end of the post I38 being reduced indiameter as shown at I33 to form a rest for a flanged bearing piece I31shown in Figs. 20 and 21.

The parts of the mold device 82 are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, thewalls to 98, inclusive, being telescopically arranged and extendingupright relative to the base plate 86. The walls 90 to 92, inclusive,are each e evated from the base plate 86 to a different height from theothers by means of a ring I38 constructed as shown in Fig. 13. The ringI38 is provided with spaced apertures I39 to register with the boltreceiving holes 225 provided in the wall under which the ring I38 isdisposed. The ring I38 in each case is of suitable diameter to match thediameter of the wall under which it is disposed and each ring I38 is ofdifferent thickness from the others. The walls 99 to 94, inclusive, areheld in position by means of bolts I88 which extend upwardly throughapertures in the base piate 86 and into the bolt receiving holes in thewalls. When a ring I38 is provided under a wall the bolts I II] extendthrough the apertures I39 in the ring I38 and into the bolt receivingholes 225 in the wall in register with the ring I38.

The post I34 extends upwardly in the space defined by the wall 94 and ismounted On the base plate 88 by means of the bolt III, the lower end ofthe post I34 being disposed in the circular indentation 98 in thebaseplate 88 and so that the bolt I4I is received in the bolt receivinghole I35 in the lower end of the post I39. The flanged bearing pieceI3'I is removably mounted on the upper end portion of the post I34.

The lower outer wall member 88 of the twopart outer wall 81 is removablymounted on the base plate 88 and so that the studs I92 in thebase plate88 extend into the cavities I84 in the lower outer wall member 88. Theupper outer wall member 89 of the two-part outer wall 8'. is removablymounted on the upper end of the lower outer wall member 88 and so thatthe lower end portion I09 of the upper outer wall member 89 rests on theupper shouldered end portion I83 of the lower outer wall member 88. r

a m ess 'It'winbeseen as shown in Fig. 2 that the walls 99 to 94,inclusive, of the mold device 62 are telescoped one within-another andabout the post 134 and that the walls 98 to 94, inclusive, and the postI35. extend upwardly in the space defined by the lower outer wall member:88 of the two-part outer wall 37. It will also be seen as shown in Fig.2 that the two-part outer wall 81 is encompassed by and bears againstthe inner surface of the filler piece I9 of the mold holder 64. Themolddeviceil? is normally held against upward longitudinal movement inthe filler .piece I of the mold holder 64 by means of-theholdmg rod"I'I, the inner end of which extends into the groove IISin'the upperouter wall member 89 of the two-part outer wall 81. When the holding'rod'FI is-withdrawn from-the groove I I5 the mold device 62 may bemoved upwardly in the filler piece '78 and out of the mold holder '54 asshown inFig. 'l by suitable operation-of the plunger ELI, the fillerpiece I9 being normaily held against "upward movement in the tubularmember =69 by 'means of the holding rod 18 in the mold holder The coredevice -63 shown in Figs. 1 and-2 comprises an apertured top plate I42shown in Figs. 5 and '6 and concentrically arranged Walls I43, I44,145,148, I47 and I48, a post I49, and a removablebearing piece I59, thewalls and the post being mounted on the top plate I42 and extendingdownwardly thereof and the bearing piece 150 being removably mounted onthe post I49.

The wall I43 is-annular inform and is dimensioned to fit in the spacedefined by the upper '-outer*wall member --89 of the two-part outer wall81 of the mold device 82 and bear against the inner surface of the upperouter wall member 89. The wall I43 extends downwardly from the top plateI42 a shorter distance than any of the other walls of the core device=63 and is constructed of a plurality ofparts shown in Figs.

22, '23 and 24, the lowenmost part beinganan- 'nular member 'I5I, shownin Figs.-22 and 23 and the other parts of the wall I53 being made upofone or more annular members I52 constructed as shown in Fig. 24 anddesigned to be placed in register with the annular member I5 I. Spacedbolt receiving holes I53 are formed in one end of the-annular-member I5Iand the otherend is provided with spaced notched projections I54.

' The annular member I52 is provided with spaced bolt'accommodatingholes I55 to register with the bolt'receiving holes 1-53 'in the annularmember 'I'5I. The annular member I-5I -is inverted from the positionshown in Fig. 23 and-is mounted together with several of the annularmembers I52 on the-top plate I42 by means ofbolts I59-andso that thespaced notched projections -t5d extend downwardly and form the lowermostpoints 'on the wall I43 cooperativelyformed by the annular member 'I5Iand the annular members I52.

The walls MI. to I47, inclusive, are each constructed as shown in Fig.25 but are of different diameters. An understanding ofthe constructionof the wall I46, however, will be sufiicient for an understanding of theconstruction of the walls I44 to I ll, inclusive. The wall M4 shown inFig. 25 comprises a tubularbody I5? having an upper portion I58 and alower portion I59, the upper portion I58 being of larger outsidediameter'and smaller inside diameter than the lower portion I59. Spacedlongitudinally extending slots I89 and I61 are formed in the outer andimier surfaces respectively of the body I51 and spaced notches I92 areformed in the inner shoulder s m. Mounted in the slots 1st and I:6.I are:bars that and 165, respectively, which are thicker than .the depths ofthe slots in which they are dis- "posed andso that portions of the barsI84 extend outwardly of the body I5? and portions of the bars IE5 extend:into the space defined by the body I 5]. Ends of thebody I51 arespace-notched to accommodate lugs IE8 and IE7 formed respect'ivelyonends of the bars I84 and I85 and the bars I ii l and I are-secured inplace in the body In? by means of. pins IE8 and IE9 which-extend throughthe lugs I58 and IE1, respectively, and into the :body I51. Thearrangements of the bars I84 and 185 are illustrated in :the enlargedview in Fig. 26. Each bar vI84 is of tapered formand has an upperportion of uniform thickness extending-from the upper portion ofthe'body I51 to the outer shoulder I19 on the body I57. From the .pointwhere the bar I64 emerges from the shoulder He the bar I 64 graduallydecreases in thickness for a distance slightly more than halfway downthe lower .portion I59 of the body I57 and then is of uniform thicknessto .the point where the lower end of the bar I64 terminates in the lugHit. The outer surface of the bar I64,

therefore, forms an inclined plane portion IFII e'xtendingfrom a pointbelow the shoulder III] .on the body I5! to point slightly more thanhalf-way down the lower portion I59 of the body I Spaced and internallythreaded bolt recclving holes I'I'2 are provided in the upper end of theupper portion I58 of the body I 5'! to permit -mounting the wall I44 onthe top plate I42 by means of bolts I13. Each bar IE5 is of tapered formand has an upper portion of uniform thickness extending in theupperportion of the slot ISI and to the-inner shoulder I63, the bar I65 thengradually decreases in thickness to the point where the :bar I65 extendsto the lower end of the body 1511 and terminates in the lug I 8'! formedon :the rlowerjend of the'bar I65 and which is secured to the body I5!by means of the pin I89. The bar I85, therefore, presents an inclinedplane portion I13, shown in Fig. 2, extending into the space defined bythe lower portion I59 of the body I51.

Thewalls-I 44 to Ml, inclusive, are telescopically arranged and disposedinwardly of the wall I43.

Annularmembers ;I of diiierent thicknesses and vdi'ametersibutconstructed like theannular member -I-52 shown in Fig. 24 are placed inregister with the walls I44 to I47 and between the walls I lfi to Hilandthe lower surface of the top plate I42 {to make the walls I44 to I41extend each'a greater distanceiromthe top plate I42 than the precedingwall in the core device 93.

The wall !.48 is of tubular form as shown in enlarged view in Fig. 27and is provided with spaced bolt :receiving holes IE5 to receive bolts5-?8 by means of which the wall I48 is mounted on the-top:plate 442 asshown in Fig. 2. The lower elldiQf the wall I48 is 'formed to provideblock- 'li-ke projections I'Il', I18, I79 and I89 and spaces :I'B-I and182 to register with the tower-like-projections 1-26 :to @588 providedon the wall 94 of the mold device 62.

the .post :Ii39iih the molddeviceISZ .and the lower zportion 9-1 11s=reduced in diameter to .form a shoulder I86 and so that the lowerportion I85 will extend into and be in spaced relation with the innersurface of the wall 94 in the mold device 62 when the mold device 62 andthe core device 63 are brought into cooperative condition for moldingmoldable material to a required form. Below the shoulder I86 the postI49 is transversely drilled to accommodate a spring 58? and a trappedball I83 which is operable to enter a groove I69 in the bearing pieceI59 which is removably 10 mounted on the post I49 and pressed up againstthe shoulder I86.

As shown in Fig. 1 the mold device 62, the core device 63 and the moldholder 64 are constructed for mounting in a press 66, the mold holder 64is supported on a lower platen 65, the base plate 86 of the mold device62 is supported on a plunger SI and in position to descend into the moldholder 64 and the core device 63 is in position to descend into the molddevice 62. It will be understood that the plunger 8! may be operated tolet the mold device 62 descend into the mold holder 64 and that thepress 66 may be operated to bring the core device 63 into the molddevice 62.

In Fig. 2 the mold device 62 has been lowered into the mold holder 64and the core device 63 has been moved downwardly into the mold device62. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the core device 63 is in the spacedefined by the outer wall 8! of the mold device 62, the walls I44 toI48, inclusive, of' the core device 63 are in register with and areslightly elevated from the corresponding walls 90 to 94, inclusive, ofthe mold device 62, the post I34 of the mold device 62 is in registerwith the post I49 of the core device 63 and the posts I34 35 and I49 areequipped with the removable bearing pieces I3! and I 56,-respectively.It is to be observed that the mold device 62 and the core device 63 whenbrought to the positions shown in Fig. 2 cooperatively define a spaceI99 into which 0 moldable material may flow when the moldable materialis disposed between the mold device 62 and the core device 63 and themoldable material is in condition to flow and the core device 63 isbrought to the position shown in Fig. 2 while the moldable material i inrequired moldable condition. It may also be seen in Fig. 2 that thespace I99 is of required pattern to make the moldable material take theshape of the finished body 4| shown in Fig. 39 and in which thewalls 42to 49, inclusive, the wall 6|, the threads 56 and 5! and the flange 68have been formed in the molding of the body by virtue of the form of thespace I99 cooperatively defined by the mold device 62 and the coredevice 63. The body 4| has bearings 59 and 69 of suitable materialsupported in ends of the wall 41. These bearings 59 and 69 are moldedinto the body 4| when the wall 41 is being formed during the moldingoperation and are the bearing pieces I31 and I59 which were 60 formerlyin the mold device 62 and the core device 63, respectively.

When a body 4| of the type shown in Fig. 39 is to be made by means ofthe molding apparatus of the present invention the mold device 62 andthe core device 63 required are constructed by assembling and mountingthe required walls and post of the mold device 62 on the base plate 96and by assembling and mounting the required walls and post of the coredevice 63 on the top plate I42. The mold. holder 64 is mad-etc present asuitable receptacle for the mold device 62 by selecting and placing inthe mold holder 64 the required filler piece 19,.the internal diameterof which is correct for receiving the two parts 88 and 10 Y 89 of thetwo-part outer wall 81 of the mold device 62. The filler piece 10 0f themold holder 64 is held against undesired removal from the tubular member69 of the mold holder 64 by means of the removable holding rod I6, theinner end of which extends into the cavity I8 in the filler piece I0.The removable bearing piece I3! is placed in required position on thepost I34 of the mold device 62, the mold device 62 is placed on theejector plate 82 and the mold device 62 is lowered into the mold holder64, the holding rod 19 being withdrawn from the path of movement of themold device 62 until the mold device 62 is moved to its requiredposition in the mold holder 64. After the mold'device 62 is in requiredposition in the mold holder 64 the holding rod I9 is thrust inwardly ofthe mold holder 64 to bring the inner end of the holding rod I9 into thegroove H5 in the upper outer wall member 89 of the two-part outer wall61 of the mold device '62 to hold the mold device 62 against undesiredupward movement in the mold holder 64. When the mold device 62 is inrequired position in the mold holder 64 and the mold device 62 and moldholder 64 are viewed from the top the parts are in the positions shownin Fig. 4.

When the core device 63 has been constructed by assembling and mountingthe required walls and post on the top plate I42 and bearing piece I56is removably mounted on the post I49 by placing the bearing piece I59 onthe lower end of the post I49 and thrusting the bearing piece I56 alongthe post until the trapped ball I68 snaps into thegroove I89 and thebearing piece is against the shoulder I86 on the post I49. When the coredevice 63 has been constructed by assembling and'mounting the requiredparts on the top plate I42the core device 63 is secured by suitablemeans to the upper platen 61 of the press 66 and in position to enterthe mold device 62 when the press 66 is operated to bring the platens 65and 61 relatively near each other.

The platens 65 and 61 may be heated in any su table manner to transmitheat to the mold device 62 and the core device 63 or the mold device 62and the core device 63 may be heated in any other suitable manner, forinstance, by way of the mold holder 64. The top plate I42 of the coredevice 63 is provided with guide pins I9I to enter the apertures I2 inthe flange H of the tubular member 69 of the mold holder 64 to guide thecore device 63 into the mold device 62. A

' bottom plan view of the core device 63 is shown inFig. 3 in which theparts may be seen in their relative positions.

The body 4| may be made of any moldable material found suitable formaking body with the molding apparatus of this invention. Since themolding apparatus is constructed so that it may be readily heated, thechoice of materials may extend even to thermoplastic or thermosettingmaterials. It will be assumed, however, merely for the purpose ofsimplifying the specification and not in the sense of a limitation ofthe invention that the material chosen is a material that may be reducedto a moldable condition while in the molding apparatus and that partsofthe molding ap aratus are brought'to' the required elevatedtemperature or temperatures during the molding operation.

The moldable material to be molded to required form to make the body 4|may be a preform of moldable material of predetermined size and formplaced in the mold device 62 or some measured amount of some otherform-of moldable material may be placedin the mold'device-M'. When thecoredevice S3 ismoved downwardly into the mold device 62to the requiredextent and. the moldable material is reduced to a plastic condition themoldable material will move into the space I90, and takethe shape'ofthe'body. 4|. After'thema terial'has set, the press 66 may be operatedto lift the core device 63 out f=the mold device 62 andthe body 41 andconsiderably above the: mold de1- vice 62. The holding rod T1 in themold holder 64 may be then Withdrawn. fromthe groove H5 in the upperouter wallmember 89 ofathe-mold; device- 62 and the plunger- 8.1. may beoperated? to move the mold device 6.2 upwardly and out, of the moldholder 64' to theposition shown; in; Fi 1.

As already pointed"v out the body 41 has male threads on' its' outersurface and: the outer wall 81 of the mold device 62 is made in twoparts. The" two-'partwall 81 structureand arrangement facilitatesremoval of the b0dy4-l from the mold device: 62, and reduces the hazardoffracturing the body 4 I during the removal operation;

To getthe body 4| out of the mold deviceBZ a; wrench of suitable formand;such,-for instance, as the wrench I92: shown i-n-Fig.- 31- may beemployed: Thezwrench, I92: comprises. a handle H33- and an invertedcup-'likecasing- I 94- provided with. set screws I05... The. handle I93has. spaced apertures [96- for-med. therein. in which. pins? I91 may beselectively-set; to engage-in. apertures provided in the casing I04 orto engagein thespaced cavities H0 provided in the-upperv outer wall-memeber 89; of the two-partwall- 8.1, of. the mold. device 62. By applying.thewrenchte the mold. device 62 and with the pins. IQ] of the wrench, inthe. cavities H0 theupper outer wall member 89 of the two-part. wall811' of the mold device. 62 may be unscrewed from the body 41 andremoved therefrom andfrom the lower outer wall member 88. of thetwo-part wall. 81, of the molddevice: 62. The body, 4.l with thelowe'router wall member- 83 of the two-part wall81 of the mold device 62- maybe lifted from the remaining partsof the mold device 62 and placed on atable I98 having. pins I99. extendingupwardly'from a platform 200 onwhich the lower outer Wall 88 may rest, the'pins l99being. positioned toextend into the cavities- I'04 in the lower outer wall member" 081 Thewrench I92 may be set to. griplthe'bodif: 4| and operated to unscrewtheb'ody' 41 from; the lower outer wall member 88 of the two-partwall'81 of' the mold device; 62.

The molding apparatus of this invention is not limited to the making ofone size body since various' parts of the mold device 62, the coredevice 63. and the mold holder 64 are removabl supported on and in theirrespective supports and some of the parts are replaceable by like partsbut of different diameters. The number and arrangement of the concentricwalls provided in the mold device 62- and in the core device 63' dependon the number of walls required in the body to be made and the insidediameter of the outer Wall 8'! of the mold device, and the inside diameter of the filler'piece I0 depends on the outside diameter of the bodyto be made.

In Fig; 32 the mold device the core device 202 and the mold holder 203correspond respectively to the device 62, the core device 63 and themoldholder 64 previously described but are set up and arranged to make abody of larger diameter and having agreater number of walls than thebody made by means of: the molding, apparatus shown in Fig.2. Partsshownin Fig. 32 which are exactly the. same as corresponding parts shownin Fig. 2 and parts shown inFig. 32which are thesame' in structure ascorresponding parts shown in-Fig. 2 but are different only indimensio'n's are identifiedTin Fig. 32 by the same numbersas in Fig 2.

The mold device-20L shown in Fig. 32' performs the same'function as themold device 62 shown in Fig- 2 and'the maindifference" in the molddevice 201 and the mold device 62 lies in the fact that three more wallsare provided in the mold device 20l' than in the'mold device 62. Thethree additional' walls are identified as 204,. 205' and 206. The Walls204", 205'and 206 follow. the structure of the wallillustrated in Figs.12, 14; 15, 16 and 1'7 and. previously described. The mold device 201has been constructed by selecting and suitably-"mounting the requiredwalls on a base plate 36' of required dimensions.

The core'device 202 shown in Fig. 32 performs the same function as-thecore device 63 shown in Fig.- 2 and the main difference in the coredevice 202 and the core device 63lie's in the fact that three more wallsare provided in the core device 202 than in the core device 63'. Thethree addi-' tional walls are identified in Fig. 32' as 201, 208' and209. The walls 207, 208 and 209 follow the s'tructu're'of the wall I44"shown in Figs. 25 and 26 and previously described; The core device 202has been constructed byselecting andsuitably mounting therequired wallson the top plate I42.

The mold holder 2-0-3 shown in Fig. 32 performsthe same function as themold holder 64 shown in- Fig. 2" and the main difference in the moldholder 203; and the moldholder 64* lies in the-fact that thefiller-piece 10 in the mold holder 203 has a; larger inside diameterthan the filler piece '60 in: the moldholder 64'.

The pattern and structure of the body produced' by meansof the moldingapparatus shown in" Fig; 32 may be visualized by observing the openspaces left between the rnold device 20!- and the core device 202- andwith theunderstanding that the molding material placed in the molddevice 201 flows into these open spaces whenv the moldable' material issoftened and the molding apparatus is suitably operated.

In some cases a body may be required of the same diameter as the bodyproduced: by means of the molding apparatus shown in Fig. 32 butminussome of the walls present in that body and. having spokesI formedin the body where the wallsa-rev left out. In; Figs. 33 and 34-themolding apparatus is; constructed to produce a body of the generalstructureproduceable by means of the molding apparatus shown in Fig. 32but with a smaller number ofwalls and with spokes inportions of thebody.

In Figs. 33 and 34 the molding apparatus comprises the mold device 295'and the mold holder 263 both of which are employed. in Fig. 32 and acore device 2H3 constructed to enter the mold device 2M. The coredevice, 2l0 follows in general, the structure of the core device 2%,shown in 32101111 is minus the, walls M4, I45 and M6 present-in the coredevice 2702.

In the core device 210 walls 2, 2E2 and 213 are concentrically arrangedand supported on the topplate E42 and take the places of the respectivewalls I44, M5. and 1-45 present in the core device 262. The Walls 2H, H2and 253 are tubular in form and when nested together with the wall 2Hdisposed outside and the wall 2E3 disposedinside the. wa1l2t2 f ll thespace occupied by the walls :44, M and me in the core device 262. Thewall 2| 1 as shown in Fig. 35 is reduced in outside diameter in itslower portion to form a shoulder 2M, the reduction gradually increasingdownward from the shoulder 214 part way to the lowerend 2!! and thenbeing uniform to the lower end EN. The bore of the wall 2 is uniformthroughout the structure. The upper end of the wall 2H is provided withspaced bolt receiving holes 2.!6 to receive bolts 113 by means of whichthe wall is mounted on the top plate I42. Spaced openings 2i? extendinglongitudinally from the lower end 255 of the wall 21! to the shoulder 2[4 are formed in the wall 2| I.

The wall 2 i2 shown in Fig. 36 follows the structure of the wall 2H withthe exception that the wall 2l2 has no shoulder 2M and is not reduced indiameter at any point. The spaced openings 258 formed in the lowerportion of the wall 2 i 2 are arranged to register with the spacedopenings 2H in the wall 2 when the wall 252 is properly placed withinthe wall 2| 1.

The wall 2l3 shown in Fig. 37 follows in general the structure of thewall 2 I? but the bore is enlarged in the lower portion to form aninternal shoulder 219, the bore gradually enlarging from the shoulder2!!! to the lower end 220 of the wall 213. The spaced openings '221formed in the lower portion of the wall 2l3 extend longitudinally upwardfrom the lower end 226 to the shoulder 259 and are arranged to registerwith the spaced openings 2! 8 in the wall 212 when the wall H3 isproperly placed within the wall 2l2.

When moldable material is placed in the mold device 26! and the coredevice am is moved downwardly in the mold device 29! while the moldablematerial is in a softened condition some of the moldable material flowsinto the spaces 2H, 218 and HI formed in the walls 21 I, 212 and 2H3 andforms strengthening spokes in the body produced, the spokes being joinedto other portions of the body and serving to strengthen portions of thebody.

The present invention provides a molding apparatus that maybe used tomake molded bodies of various sizes and forms and in which spaces mustbe provided to accommodate card-like electrical elements. The molddevice and the core device which are capable of being used incooperation to form a mold to shape moldable material to the requiredbody form are each provided with walls removably mounted on plates. Arequired mold and core device may be made up by selectively mounting thewalls on the plates, the selection and arrangement of the walls beingdeter mined by the size and form of the body required to be made bymeans of the molding apparatus. Embossings and projecting parts on thewalls of the mold device and the core device will result in theproduction of corresponding recesses and indentations in the walls ofthe molded body produced by means of the molding apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. A molding apparatus comprising a cup-like mold, a side wall in saidcup-like mold consisting of two separable annular Wall members arrangedin end-to-end abutting relation, a screw thread pattern formed inthe-inner surface of eachof said annular wall members to form malethreads on an article molded in the molding apparatus and end portionson said annular wall members having spaced cavities formed therein tofacilitate rotating said annular wall members, relative to an articlemolded in said cup-like mold, to unscrew said annular wall members fromsaid article.

2. A molding apparatus comprising a mold de vice and a core deviceoperable to enter said mold device, concentric walls in said mold deviceextending to difierent heights, concentric walls in said core deviceextending to different depths and arranged to extend into longitudinalregister and spaced relation with the corresponding concentric walls insaid mold device, the corresponding walls in said mold device and insaid core device being cooperable to define a space of stepped form insaid molding apparatus, the walls in said core device being alsoarranged to define concentric spaces in the molding apparatus,tower-like projections formed on an end of one of the concentric wallsin said mold device, block-like projections formed on an end of one ofthe concentric walls in said core device and in register with saidtower-like projections and blocks With radially extending wing portionsmounted on said tower-like projections and in register with saidblock-like projections.

TREVOR S. HUXHAM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 34,344 BaldwinFeb. 11, 1862 469,053 Beatty Feb. 16, 1892 1,150,437 Layman Aug. 17,1915 1,244,676 Wilcox Oct. 30, 1917 1,898,251 Kopp Feb. 21, 19331,919,070 McKay et a1 July 18, 1933 2,100,985 smally Nov. 30, 19372,194,538 Allen Mar. 26, 1940 2,321,469 Draving June 8, 1943 2,325,687KuX Aug. 3, 1943 2,327,665 Peat Aug. 24, 1943 2,350,971 Pecker et al.June 6, 1944 2,380,659 McDougal July 31, 1945

